Advancing Economic Opportunity through Place-Based Resilience Strategies
Austin, Texas, is working to implement economic resilience strategies that address longstanding disparities in access to opportunity and small business support across its communities. FUSE Executive Fellow Sandy Eapen will help the city pilot and scale these strategies by coordinating cross-sector efforts and developing tools for long-term implementation and sustainability.... Read more
Advancing Economic Mobility Through Housing Access
Austin, Texas, is working to enhance its housing programs to advance economic mobility and expand access to long-term financial opportunities for all residents. FUSE Executive Fellow Lasandra Barksdale will develop data-driven strategies to evaluate program effectiveness, strengthen housing initiatives, and explore sustainable financing models to support first-time homebuyers and income-restricted... Read more
Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
The City of Baltimore is working to expand access to capital for small businesses, with a focus on historically underserved communities, to address longstanding funding challenges and promote sustainable economic growth. FUSE Executive Fellow Lolita Jackmon will develop strategic recommendations to improve financial accessibility, strengthen partnerships with lenders, and design... Read more
Expanding Affordable Housing through Strategic Development
Birmingham, Alabama, is working to expand high-quality, affordable housing to promote economic mobility and community revitalization. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop a strategic framework, strengthen partnerships, and implement pilot projects to accelerate housing development through the Magic City Housing Development Corporation. Ultimately, this work will increase housing accessibility, attract... Read more
Transforming Housing Access: Cleveland’s Comprehensive Plan for Renewal
The City of Cleveland, in partnership with FUSE, plans to review and refine its 10-year housing plan, titled “Cleveland 2030: A Housing Equity Plan,” to move beyond just addressing housing shortages and foster accessible homeownership growth among underrepresented populations. Ultimately, this initiative will contribute to sustainable community development that creates... Read more
Expanding Affordable Housing Supply for First-Time Homebuyers
The City of Philadelphia is working to expand comprehensive first-time homeownership opportunities and increase housing supply through multiple innovative housing programs, such as the Turn the Key Neighborhoods Program, which transforms vacant, city-owned lots into affordable homes. FUSE Executive Fellow Christine Behr will collaborate with a team of content experts... Read more
Building Effective, Inclusive Approaches to Countywide Coordination of Equitable Services
Los Angeles County, home to 9.7 million residents across 88 cities and diverse communities, is working to improve the coordination and delivery of services with a focus on equity and inclusion. Through the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative and the newly established Prevention and Promotion Coordination and Implementation Team... Read more
Engaging and Empowering L.A. County Youth Towards Achieving Optimal Health Outcomes
Los Angeles County's Department of Public Health, through its Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Programs (MCAH), is prioritizing youth health by empowering adolescents to navigate healthcare systems and make informed decisions about their well-being. Collaborating with its Youth Advisory Council—a diverse group of high school and college students—the County will... Read more
Reimagining Homelessness Prevention and Response for the Latino Community
Los Angeles County is addressing the rapid rise among Latino residents experiencing homelessness, which increased by 26% from 2020 to 2022—more than triple the national rate. In response, the County’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative convened a task force to identify barriers such as language access, immigration status, and... Read more
Financial Systems Improvement and Change Management to Strengthen Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department (ISD) plays a critical role in delivering essential services across the County, including IT support, energy management, procurement, and operations, while advancing key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. However, ISD’s current rate-setting and billing processes are inconsistent, causing customer departments to have challenges... Read more